Fire-escape



(No Model.)

F. E. HAMLIN 8v Gr. W. SMITH,

FIRE ESCAPE.

N0. 340,573. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. HAMLIN AND GEORGE IV. SMITH, OFALLEN, MICHIGAN.

FI RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,573, dated April 27,1886.

Application filed .Tune 1, 1885. Serial No. 167,330.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK E. HAMLIN and GEORGE W. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Allen, county of Hillsdale, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

Our invention relates to that class of fireescapes in which friction-blocks are used by the'persons descending from a building; and it consists of details of construction described below, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View in side elevation showing the escape attached toa window. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view ofthe under side of the friction-block, showing the means of clamping the rope to retard the descent. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the friction-block, one of the sides being removed to show the action of the escape-rope and friction-pulleys. Fig. 4 is a detail View of one of the pulleys.

Like letters refer to like parts.

A is a Window, and to the sill, by means of a double hook, B, the escape or guide rope C may be readily attached when needed.

l) is the friction-block, which is intended to travel down and back on the escape-rope, and is controllable by the person descending or from the ground, as described hereinafter. This block consists of two sides, a a, and central partition-strips, a a?, the former cut away to make spaces I) b', for the play of the pulleys and escape-rope, the sides and strips being strongly bolted togetherat c c. The pulleys E Eare journaled in the sides of the block, as shown, and about each of them the rope C takes a single turn. To one of the block-sides spring-strips f f are suitably fastened. As the weight of the person causes the pulleys to turn these strips springs into the recess f', formed in each pulley, and the latter are thereafterlocked and become rigid or friction pulleys. (See Figs. 3 and 4.)

(No model.)

About the rope C is a clamp or staple, F, having a threaded end projecting through one side of the block, and by means of a thumbscrew, g, the staple can be made to compress the escape-rope tightly between it and the block side, thus acting as a friction-brake to regulate the speed of the block if the friction of the pulleys is not suflicient, and being entirel y under the control of the person descend- Ing.

By means of ears h h on the block a stirrupchair, G, of webbing, is attached, which is obviously for tbe purpose of affording safe and comfortable support to the person as said block moves up or down. At the top of the block an eye, K, is placed, and to this is fastened a pull-rope, L, operated over a pulley, M, suitably attached to the loop of double bool; B, and by the use of this rope any one in the chair can quickly and easily raise the block to any desired distance, or it may be done from the ground.

It will be seen that if the person in the chair loses self-control any one below may control the friction by the escape-rope or stop the descent by the pull-rope.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim is- 1. The combination, with the block D. having spring-strips ff and brake-staple F, operated by thumb-screw g, of the pulleys E E, having recess f, and the escape-rope C, as Set forth.

2. lThe combination, with the block 1), of the spring-strips ff, the pulleys E E, having recess j", the escape-rope C, and the thumbscrew clamp F, the stirrup-chair G, attached to said block by ears h- 71 the pull-rope L, and the pulley M, attached to the window-hook B, as set forth.

FRANK. E. HAMLIN. GEORGE W. SMITH.

Witnesses:

C. B. VAN VALER,

ZIEGLER. 

